Go Green At Home

Whether you're ready to renovate now or just daydreaming over glossy decorating magazines, you may want to consider going green for your next upgrade. Paint, carpet, flooring, and other materials found in the home often emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde and toluene—which can cause headaches, coughing, nausea, and breathing problems, as well as damage to the environment.

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But if you buy smart, you can substantially cut down on your exposure with earth friendly products, says Gary Ginsberg, PhD, a senior toxicologist at the Connecticut Department of Public Health. Fortunately, there are plenty of good-looking, Earth-friendly products available at costs comparable to—and sometimes lower than—traditional choices. So you don't have to choose between making your home look beautiful and making it a friendlier place to live. Here, the latest and greatest in eco-decor:

Carpets

That new-carpet smell? Chemicals, some of them toxic, says Ian Greaves, MD, an associate professor of environmental and occupational health at the University of Minnesota.

Alternative: Natural Fiber Rugs Make the air in your home easier to breathe by buying natural fibers instead of synthetic ones. To avoid toxic glues, install wall-to-wall with nails or opt for water-based adhesives.

The Naturals from FLOR (florcatalog.com) is a line of carpet tiles made from organic cotton, kenaf (similar to hemp), wool, or sisal. The 19.7-by-19.7-inch tiles come in fun patterns and textures and look similar to looped synthetic carpets. At $5 to $10 per square foot, they're pricier than conventional carpet tiles (around $3 per square foot).

Benjamin Moore's new Aura line (myaurapaint.com) dries fast because it has fewer solvents. At $55 per gallon, it costs more (paint generally runs from $20 to $40 per gallon), but the rich colors cover well, so you'll probably need only one coat.

Flooring

Vinyl flooring is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which has been associated with an increased risk of asthma.

Alternative: Cork or Bamboo Cork flooring is a renewable, chemical-free product made from the bark of the cork oak. Bamboo, another good alternative, is pricier than vinyl but sturdier than red oak or maple, and it's renewable.

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